Body and fender straightener



Aug. 9, 1938. c. A. ARNHOLM' BODY AND FENDER STRAIGHTENER Filed Aug. 29. 19.55

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l g 1m Aug. 9, 1938. c. A. ARNHOLM BODY AND FENDER STRAIGHTENER Filed Aug. 29. 1935 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented AugIQ, 1938 UNITED, S ATES PATENT OFFICE 2,126,528 om! am) FENDER 'STBAIGHTENER Charles Arthur-Arnhem Barre, Vt.

Application August 29, 1935, Serial No. 38,480 a Claims. (Ci. lac-s2) This invention relates to sheet metal shaping devices and more particularly to a device for straightening sheet metal bodies and fenders of motor vehicles. 1

An object of this invention is to provide a pneumaticv shaping device for use in removing dents or like distortions from fenders, bodies, or other similar sheet metal objects wherein the operating means for the shaping means is a conventional pneumatic machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shaping device of this type with means whereby the pneumatically operated hammeris limited in its operation and is so held with respect to the work that it can be easily moved along the work so as to smoothly shape the work and thus prevent dents or ridges being formed by' the pneumatically operated hammer.

A further object-of this invention is to provide a shaping means for sheet metal including holding means for the shaping parts so that dents or like distortions remote from the free edges of the part may be readily removed. p

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understood from the following detail description of the present preferred embodiment, thesame being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation partly in section of the device. showing the device in applied position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation oil a plurality of anvils or hammers used with the device.

Figure. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the pneumatic operator-with the movable hammer detachably secured thereto.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral Ill designates generally a frame structure which in the present instance is substantially U-shaped in configuration including an upper arm ii and a lower arm l2 which is offset upwardly from the lower portion ll of the frame It.

A pneumatic power member I 4 of well known construction is secured to the forward end of the upper arm ll, being secured to the arm H by means of clamping devices l5 and IS, the latter being fixed to the forward end of .the arm II, while the outer portion I5 is bolted or otherwise secured to the fixed portion it of the clamping device. The power member H has a valve l'i secured to a pipe i8 which is connected to the power member i4 and a valve operating member i9 is carried by the valve I1 and inhousing of the pneumatic power member ll.

Preferably, the hammer 22 has a channel 24 within which an arm of the spring 23 engages and this channel is of a width substantially equal to the stroke of the power member 14.

A fixed anvil 25 is secured to the upper end of a threaded anvil supportingmember 26 which is threaded through the forward end of the lower arm I2 and provided with a handle 21 by means of which the fixed head or anvil 25 may be' adjusted relative to the movable head or anvil 22. Preferably, the forward end of the arm I2 is split and a bolt 28 passed through the split portions thereof so that the threaded supporting member 26 may be locked in adjusted position with respect to the movable member 22.

The stroke of the hammer 22 is controlled by means of a dolly structure. generally designated as 29, which is adiustably secured to the power member It below the upper arm II. This dolly structure comprises a pair of downwardly divergent arms 30 which are fixed to a split clamping memben 3| adiustably fastened to the periphery of the housing of the power member ll by means of bolts 32.

The lower or divergent ends of the arms 32 are provided with feet 33 having a fibre contacting face 24. The feet 33 are pivotally secured, as at 25, to the lower ends of the arms 30. By means of. the pivotal connection of the feet 32 with the arms 20, the dolly structure 29 will automatically adjust itself to the different configurations of the sheet metal which it is desired to shape.

The two shaping members 22 and 25 are adapted to have the desired metal contacting face and may be shaped in any suitable manner, that is, one of these members may be provided with a concave operating face and the other with a convex members 22 and operating face or the operating faces of these members may be of any other selected configuration depending upon the manner in which it is desired to shape the article. Preferably, the two 25 are removable from their associated parts so that these two members may be used in pairs or the members of selected pairs interchanged to secure the desired result with respect to the sheet metal.

In theuse and operation of this device, the frame II is adapted to engage about the opposite sides of the article which is to be shaped with the movable hammer on one side of the metal and the fixed and adjustable member 25 on the oppolite side thereof. The dolly structure 2'9 is then adjusted so as to control the stroke and also control the shaping of the article, this being accomplished by adjusting the clamping member 3! on the housing of the power member H. The valve H is then opened to the desired degree so as to effect the desired speed of movement of the hammer 22 which is detachably held in operative position by the spring 23 engaging in the channel 24 of the member 25.

It will, of course, be understood that the frame ll may be of any suitable configuration dependent only upon the character of the article which is to be worked upon.

I claim:

1. A shaping device as set forth comprising a frame, a pair of spaced apart arms, an anvil, threaded supporting means engaging one of the arms and the anvil to adjustably support the anvil in the frame, locking means for said threaded means, a movable hammer, operating means for said movable hammer, clamping means carried by the other arm 'and engaging the operating means to support the operating means in opposed relation to the anvil, a pair of downwardly divergent arms, means for securing said arms to the operating means on opposite sides of the movable hammer and a work engaging member carried by the divergent ends of the arms.

2. A shaping device as set forth comprising a frame having a pair of spaced apart arms, an anvil, threaded means engaging one of the arms of the anvil to adjustably support the anvil in the frame, locking'means for the threaded means,

'a'movable'hamme'r, operating means for said movable hammer, means for securing the operating means to the other arm, a pair of downwardly divergent arms, means for securing said divergent arms to the operating means for adjustment along the length of the operating means, a pair of work engaging shoes and means for pivotally securing the shoes to the divergent ends of the latter arms.

3. A shaping device as frame having a pair of spaced apart arms. an anvil, threaded supporting means engaging one of the arms and the anvil to support the anvil between the arms, a movable hammer opposed to the anvil, operating means for the movable hammer, means for releasably securing the hammer to the operating means, means for securing the ops erating means to the other arm, means for controlling the speed of work engaging members disposed one on each side of the movable hammer and in spaced relation thereto and means for adjustably securing said work engaging members to the operating means whereby to limit the impact of the hammer on the work.'

CHARLES ARTHUR ARNHOLM.

set forth comprising a' of the operating means, a pair 

